The Ganden Tripa or Gaden Tripa (tib. dGa’-ldan Khri-pa) ("Holder of the Ganden Throne") is the title of the spiritual leader of the Gelug

Gelug

The Gelug or Gelug-pa , also known as the Yellow Hat sect, is a school of Buddhism founded by Je Tsongkhapa , a philosopher and Tibetan religious leader...

 (Dge-lugs) school of Tibetan Buddhism

Tibetan Buddhism

Tibetan Buddhism is the body of Buddhist religious doctrine and institutions characteristic of Tibet and certain regions of the Himalayas, including northern Nepal, Bhutan, and India . It is the state religion of Bhutan...

, the school which controlled central Tibet

Tibet

Tibet is a plateau region in Asia, north-east of the Himalayas. It is the traditional homeland of the Tibetan people as well as some other ethnic groups such as Monpas, Qiang, and Lhobas, and is now also inhabited by considerable numbers of Han and Hui people...

 from the mid-17th century until 1950s. He is identical with the respective abbot of Ganden Monastery

Ganden Monastery

Ganden Monastery or Ganden Namgyeling is one of the 'great three' Gelukpa university monasteries of Tibet, located at the top of Wangbur Mountain, Tagtse County, 36 kilometers ENE from the Potala Palace in Lhasa, at an altitude of 4,300m...

. The present head of the Gelugpa order is Thubten Nyima Lungtok Tenzin Norbu, the 102nd Ganden Tripa and not, as is often misunderstood, the Dalai Lama

Dalai Lama

The Dalai Lama is a high lama in the Gelug or "Yellow Hat" branch of Tibetan Buddhism. The name is a combination of the Mongolian word далай meaning "Ocean" and the Tibetan word bla-ma meaning "teacher"...

.

The Ganden Tripa is an appointed office, not a reincarnation

Reincarnation

Reincarnation best describes the concept where the soul or spirit, after the death of the body, is believed to return to live in a new human body, or, in some traditions, either as a human being, animal or plant...

 lineage. It is awarded on the basis of competitive examination. Since the position is held for only a 7-year term, there have been many more Ganden Tripas than Dalai Lamas to date (101 as against 14).

Either Tsongkapa

Je Tsongkhapa

Tsongkhapa , whose name means “The Man from Onion Valley”, was a famous teacher of Tibetan Buddhism whose activities led to the formation of the Geluk school...

 (Tsong-ka-pa) (1357–1419), who founded the Gelug sect, or his successor, Gyaltsab Je

Gyaltsab Je

Gyaltsab Je or more elaborately, Gyaltsab Dharma Rinchen was born in the Tsang province of central Tibet. He was a famous student of Je Tsongkhapa, and actually became the first Ganden Tripa of the Gelug tradition after Je Tsongkhapa's death.Gyaltsab Je was a prolific writer; one of his most...

 (Rgyal-tshab-rje), may be considered to have been the first Ganden Tripa. (After Tsongkhapa's passing, his teachings were held and kept by Gyaltsab Je and Khedrub Je who were the next abbots of Ganden monastery. The lineage has been held by the Ganden Tripas–the throne-holders of Ganden Monastery.)

In January 2003, the Government of Tibet in Exile announced the nomination of the 101st Ganden Tripa. An excerpt from that press release gives his background:

The 101st Ganden Tripa, the Venerable Khensur Lungri Namgyel

Khensur Lungri Namgyel

Trisur Rinpoche Jetsun Lungrik Namgyal, also known as Khensur Lungri Namgyel, was born in 1927 in Kham is the 101st Gaden Tripa, the leader of the Gelug sect of Tibetan Buddhism....

 Rinpoche

Rinpoche

Rinpoche or Rinboqê is an honorific used in Tibetan Buddhism. It literally means "precious one," and is used to address or describe Tibetan lamas and other high-ranking or respected teachers. This honor is generally bestowed on reincarnated lamas, or Tulkus, by default...

 was born in 1927 in Kham

Kham

Kham , is a historical region covering a land area largely divided between present-day Tibetan Autonomous Region and Sichuan province, with smaller portions located within Qinghai, Gansu and Yunnan provinces of China. During the Republic of China's rule over mainland China , most of the region was...

 (eastern Tibet). Ordained at eight years old, after fifty years of meditative practices and studies he was elevated by H.H. the Dalai-lama as successively abbot

Abbot

The word abbot, meaning father, is a title given to the head of a monastery in various traditions, including Christianity. The office may also be given as an honorary title to a clergyman who is not actually the head of a monastery...

 of Gyutö

Gyuto Order

Gyuto Tantric University is one of the great monastic institutions of the Gelug Order.-History:Gyuto was founded in 1475 by Jetsun Kunga Dhondup and is one of the main tantric colleges of the Gelug tradition...

 Tantric College (in 1983), and as abbot of Ganden Shartse Monastic University (in 1992). In 1986 he was the special envoy of H.H. the Dalai-lama to the ecumenical meetings of Assisi

Assisi

- Churches :* The Basilica of San Francesco d'Assisi is a World Heritage Site. The Franciscan monastery, il Sacro Convento, and the lower and upper church of St Francis were begun immediately after his canonization in 1228, and completed in 1253...

 in Italy

Italy

Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...

 convened by H.H. the Pope

Pope

The Pope is the Bishop of Rome, a position that makes him the leader of the worldwide Catholic Church . In the Catholic Church, the Pope is regarded as the successor of Saint Peter, the Apostle...

 John Paul II

Pope John Paul II

Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...

. He is a French

France

The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...

 national and has been living in Paris

Paris

Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...

, France for more than 20 years. He transmits the Buddhist teachings of his lineage in a Dharma Center, Thar Deu Ling which he founded in 1980.

The 100th Ganden Tripa, Venerable Lobsang Nyima Rinpoche, retired and lived at Ganden Monastery

Ganden Monastery

Ganden Monastery or Ganden Namgyeling is one of the 'great three' Gelukpa university monasteries of Tibet, located at the top of Wangbur Mountain, Tagtse County, 36 kilometers ENE from the Potala Palace in Lhasa, at an altitude of 4,300m...

 with his Labrang (office staff) until his death in 2008.

1–25

#	name	biographical data	tenure	Wylie transliteration Wylie transliteration The Wylie transliteration scheme is a method for transliterating Tibetan script using only the letters available on a typical English language typewriter. It bears the name of Turrell V. Wylie, who described the scheme in an article, A Standard System of Tibetan Transcription, published in 1959...	further titles
1.	Je Tsongkhapa Je Tsongkhapa Tsongkhapa , whose name means “The Man from Onion Valley”, was a famous teacher of Tibetan Buddhism whose activities led to the formation of the Geluk school... , Lobsang Dragpa	1357–1419	1409–1419	tsong kha pa, blo bzang grags pa	Je Rinpoche Rinpoche Rinpoche or Rinboqê is an honorific used in Tibetan Buddhism. It literally means "precious one," and is used to address or describe Tibetan lamas and other high-ranking or respected teachers. This honor is generally bestowed on reincarnated lamas, or Tulkus, by default...  (rje rin po che)
2.	Dharma Rinchen (Gyaltsab Je Gyaltsab Je Gyaltsab Je or more elaborately, Gyaltsab Dharma Rinchen was born in the Tsang province of central Tibet. He was a famous student of Je Tsongkhapa, and actually became the first Ganden Tripa of the Gelug tradition after Je Tsongkhapa's death.Gyaltsab Je was a prolific writer; one of his most... )	1364–1432	1419–1431	dar ma rin chen
3.	Khedrup Gelek Pelzang	1385–1438	1431–1438	mkhas grub rje dge legs dpal bzang	1st Panchen Lama Panchen Lama The Panchen Lama , or Bainqên Erdê'ni , is the highest ranking Lama after the Dalai Lama in the Gelugpa lineage of Tibetan Buddhism...
4.	Shalu Lochen Legpa Gyeltshen Shalu Lochen Legpa Gyeltshen Shalu Lochen Legpa Gyaltsen ) was a Tibetan spiritual leader. He was the fourth Ganden Tripa of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism from 1438 to 1450....	1375–1450	1438–1450	zhwa lu lo chen legs pa rgyal mtshan	–
5.	Lodrö Chökyong Lodrö Chökyong Lodrö Chökyong ) was a Tibetan spiritual leader. He was the fifth Ganden Tripa of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism from 1450 to 1463....	1389–1463	1450–1463	blo gros chos skyong	–
6.	Chökyi Gyeltshen Chökyi Gyeltshen Chökyi Gyeltshen ) was a Tibetan spiritual leader. He was the sixth Ganden Tripa of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism from 1463 to 1473.He was also the 1st Tatsak Rinpoche ....	1402–1473	1463–1473	chos kyi rgyal mtshan	1st Tatsak Rinpoche (rta tshag rin po che)
7.	Lodrö Tenpa Lodrö Tenpa Lodrö Tenpa ) was a Tibetan spiritual leader. He was the seventh Ganden Tripa of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism from 1473 to 1479....	1402–1476	1473–1476(79)	blo gros brtan pa	–
8.	Mönlam Legpa Lodrö Mönlam Legpa Lodrö Mönlam Legpa Lodrö ) was a Tibetan spiritual leader. He was the eighth Ganden Tripa of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism from 1480 to 1489....	1414–1491	1480–1489	smon lam legs pa'i blo gros	–
9.	Lobsang Nyima	1439–1492	1490–1492	blo bzang nyi ma	–
10.	Yeshe Sangpo	1415–1498	1492–1498	ye shes bzang po	–
11.	Lobsang Dragpa	1422/1429–1511	1499–1511	blo bzang grags pa	–
12.	Jamyang Legpa Lodrö	1450–1530	1511–1516	jam dbyangs legs pa'i blo gros	–
13.	Chökyi Shenyen	1453–1540	1516–1521	chos kyi bshes gnyen	Also called Dharmamitra
14.	Rinchen Öser	1453–1540	1522–1528	rin chen 'od zer	–
15.	Penchen Sönam Dragpa	1478–1554	1529–1535	pan chen bsod nams grags pa	(gzims khang gong ma)
16.	Chökyong Gyatsho	1473–1539	1534–1539	chos skyong rgya mtsho	4th Lab Kyabgön (lab skyabs mgon)
17.	Dorje Sangpo	1491–1554	1539–1546	rdo rje bzang po	–
18.	Gyeltshen Sangpo	1497–1548	1546–1548	rgyal mtshan bzang po	–
19.	Ngawang Chödrag	1501–1551/1552	1548–1552	ngag dbang chos grags	–
20.	Chödrag Sangpo	1493–1559	1552–1559	chos grags bzang po	–
21.	Geleg Pelsang	1505–1567	1559–1565	dge legs dpal bzang	–
22.	Gendün Tenpa Dargye	1493–1568	1565–1568	dge 'dun bstan pa dar rgyas	–
23.	Tsheten Gyatsho	1520–1576	1568–1575	tshe brtan rgya mtsho	–
24.	Champa Gyatsho	1516–1590	1575–1582	byams pa rgya mtsho	–
25.	Peljor Gyatsho	1526–1599	1582–?	dpal 'byor rgya mtsho	–

26–50

#	name	biographical data	tenure	Wylie transliteration Wylie transliteration The Wylie transliteration scheme is a method for transliterating Tibetan script using only the letters available on a typical English language typewriter. It bears the name of Turrell V. Wylie, who described the scheme in an article, A Standard System of Tibetan Transcription, published in 1959...	further titles
26.	Damchö Pelbar	1523/1546–1599	1589–1596	dam chos dpal 'bar	–
27.	Sangye Rinchen	1540–1612	1596–1603	sangs rgyas rin chen	–
28.	Gendün Gyeltshen	1532–1605/1607	1603–?	dge 'dun rgyal mtshan	–
29.	Shenyen Dragpa	1545–1615	1607–1615	bshes gnyen grags pa	–
30.	Lodrö Gyatsho	1546–1618	1615–1618	blo gros rgya mtsho	5th Lab Kyabgön
31.	Damchö Pelsang	1546–1620	1618–1620	dam chos dpal bzang	–
32.	Tshülthrim Chöphel	1561–1623	1620–1623	tshul khrims chos 'phel	–
33.	Dragpa Gyatsho	1555–1627	1623–1627	grags pa rgya mtsho	–
34.	Ngawang Chökyi Gyeltshen	1571/1575–1625/1629	1623, 1627/1628(?)	ngag dbang chos kyi rgyal mtshan	–
35.	Könchog Chöphel	1573–1644	1626–1637	dkon mchog chos 'phel	–
36.	Tendzin Legshe	?–1664	1638?	bstan 'dzin legs bshad	–
37.	Gendün Rinchen Gyeltshen	1571–1642	1638–1642	dge 'dun rin chen rgyal mtshan	–
38.	Tenpa Gyeltshen	?–1647	1643–1647	bstan pa rgyal mtshan	–
39.	Könchog Chösang	?–1672/1673	1644(?)/1648–1654	dkon mchog chos bzang	–
40.	Pelden Gyeltshen	1601–1674	1651/1654/1655–1662	dpal ldan rgyal mtshan	–
41.	Lobsang Gyeltshen	1599/1600–1672	1658/1662–1668	blo bzang rgyal mtshan	–
42.	Lobsang Dönyö	1602–1678	1668–1675	blo bzang don yod	Namdak Dorje
43.	Champa Trashi	1618–1684	1675–1681	byams pa bkra shis	–
44.	Ngawang Lodrö Gyatsho	1635–1688	1682–1685	ngag dbang blo gros rgya mtsho	–
45.	Tshülthrim Dargye	1632–?	1685/1695–1692/1699	tshul khrims dar rgyas	–
46.	Ngawang Pelsang	1629–1695	?	ngag dbang dpal bzang	Chinpa Gyatsho
47.	Lobsang Chöphel	* 17th century	1699–1701	blo bzang chos 'phel	–
48.	Döndrub Gyatsho	* 17th century	1702–1708	don grub rgya mtsho	The 1st Ling Rinpoche Ling Rinpoche Kyabje Ling Rinpoche was a Tibetan buddhist scholar and teacher.Born in Tibet, northwest of Lhasa, he also was the 97th Ganden Tripa and senior tutor to His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama. The Ganden Tripa is the spiritual head of the Gelugpa Sect, the largest sect in Tibetan Buddhism. Kyabje Ling...
49.	Lobsang Dargye	* 17th century	1708–1715	blo bzang dar rgyas	–
50.	Gendün Phüntshog	?–1724	1715–1722	dge 'dun phun tshogs	–

51–75

#	name	biographical data	tenure	Wylie transliteration Wylie transliteration The Wylie transliteration scheme is a method for transliterating Tibetan script using only the letters available on a typical English language typewriter. It bears the name of Turrell V. Wylie, who described the scheme in an article, A Standard System of Tibetan Transcription, published in 1959...	further titles
51.	Pelden Dragpa	?–1729	1722–1729	dpal ldan grags pa	1st Hortsang Sertri (hor tshang gser khri)
52.	Ngawang Tshephel	1668–1734	1730–1732	ngag dbang tshe 'phel	–
53.	Gyeltshen Sengge	1678–1756	1732–1739	rgyal mtshan seng ge	1st Tsötritrül (gtsos khri sprul)
54.	Ngawang Chogden	1677–1751	1739–1746	ngag dbang mchog ldan	1st Reting Rinpoche Reting Rinpoche Reting Rinpoche is the title held by abbots of Reting Monastery, a Buddhist monastery in central Tibet. The identity of the present Reting Rinpoche is contested.-History of the lineage:...  (rwa sgreng)
55.	Ngawang Namkha Sangpo	1690–1749/1750	1746–1749/1750	ngag dbang nam mkha' bzang po	1st Shingsa Rinpoche (shing bza' )
56.	Lobsang Drimed	1683–?	1750–1757	blo bzang dri med	–
57.	Samten Phüntshog	1703–1770	1757–1764	bsam gtan phun tshogs	–
58.	Chakyung Ngawang Chödrag	1707–1778	1764–1778?	bya khyung ngag dbang chos grags	–
59.	Chusang Ngawang Chödrag	1710–1772	1771–1772?	chu bzang ngag dbang chos grags	–
60.	Lobsang Tenpa	1725–?	6 Jahre	blo bzang bstan pa	–
61.	Ngawang Tshülthrim	1721–1791	1778–1785	ngag dbang tshul khrims	1st Tshemon Ling Rinpoche (tshe smon gling)
62.	Lobsang Mönlam	1729–1798	1785–1793	blo bzang smon lam	–
63.	Lobsang Khechog	1736–1792	1792 (6 months)	blo bzang mkhas mchog	–
64.	Lobsang Trashi	1739–1801	1794–1801	blo bzang bkra shis	–
65.	Gendün Tshülthrim	1744–1807	?	dge 'dun tshul khrims	–
66.	Ngawang Nyandrag	1746–1824	1807–1814	ngag dbang snyan grags	–
67.	Jamyang Mönlam	1750–1814/1817	1814 (3 months)	'jam dbyangs smon lam	–
68.	Lobsang Geleg	1757–1816	1815–1816	blo bzang dge legs	–
69.	Changchub Chöphel	1756–1838	1816–1822	byang chub chos 'phel	Yongzin Trijang Dorje Chang
70.	Ngawang Chöphel Ngawang Chophel Ngawang Choephel is a Tibetan ethnomusicologist, filmmaker, and political prisoner.-Overview:Choephel was born in Tibet in 1966, but his family fled to India in 1968. He later went to the USA to study ethnomusicology through the Fulbright program in 1993 and 1994 at Middlebury College. He returned...	1760–1839	1822–1828	ngag dbang chos 'phel
71.	Yeshe Thardo	1756–1829/1830	1829–1830	ye shes thar 'dod	–
72.	Jampel Tshülthrim	* 19th century	1831–1837	'jam dpal tshul khrims	1st Khamlung Rinpoche khams lung
73.	Ngawang Jampel Tshülthrim Gyatsho	1792–1862/1864	1837–1843	ngag dbang 'jam dpal tshul khrims rgya mtsho	2nd Tshemon Ling
74.	Lobsang Lhündrub	* 18th century	?	blo bzang lhun grub	–
75.	Ngawang Lungtog Yönten Gyatsho	* 19 Jh.–1853?	1850–1853	ngag dbang lung rtogs yon tan rgya mtsho	The 4th Ling Rinpoche Ling Rinpoche Kyabje Ling Rinpoche was a Tibetan buddhist scholar and teacher.Born in Tibet, northwest of Lhasa, he also was the 97th Ganden Tripa and senior tutor to His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama. The Ganden Tripa is the spiritual head of the Gelugpa Sect, the largest sect in Tibetan Buddhism. Kyabje Ling...

76–102

#	name	biographical data	tenure	Wylie transliteration Wylie transliteration The Wylie transliteration scheme is a method for transliterating Tibetan script using only the letters available on a typical English language typewriter. It bears the name of Turrell V. Wylie, who described the scheme in an article, A Standard System of Tibetan Transcription, published in 1959...	further titles
76.	Lobsang Khyenrab Wangchug	?–1872	1853–1870	blo bzang mkhyen rab dbang phyug	–
77.	Tshülthrim Dargye	?	1859?–1864?	tshul khrims dar rgyas	–
78.	Jamyang Damchö	* 19th century	1864?–1869?	jam dbyangs dam chos	–
79.	Lobsang Chinpa	* 19th century	1869?–1874?	blo bzang sbyin pa	–
80.	Dragpa Döndrub	* 19th century	1874?–1879?	grags pa don grub	–
81.	Ngawang Norbu	* 19th century	1879?–1884?	ngag dbang nor bu	–
82.	Yeshe Chöphel	* 19th century	1884?–1889?	ye shes chos 'phel	–
83.	Changchub Namkha	* 19th century	1889?–1894?	byang chub nam mkha'	–
84.	Lobsang Tshülthrim	* 19th century	1894?–1899?	blo bzang tshul khrims	–
85.	Lobsang Tshülthrim Pelden	1839–1899/1900	1896–1899/1900	blo bzang tshul khrims dpal ldan	Yongzin Trijang Dorje Chang
86.	Lobsang Gyeltshen	1840–?	1900–1907?	blo bzang rgyal mtshan	–
87.	Ngawang Lobsang Tenpe Gyeltshen	1844–1919	1907–1914	ngag dbang blo bzang bstan pa'i rgyal mtshan	3rd Tshemon Ling
88.	Khyenrab Yönten Gyatsho	* 19th century	1914?–1919	mkhyen rab yon tan rgya mtsho	Drigungpa Khyenrab Yönten
89.	Lobsang Nyandrag Gyatsho	* 19th century	1919?–1924?	blo bzang snyan grags rgya mtsho	–
90.	Champa Chödrag	1876–1937/1947	1920/1921–1926	byams pa chos grags	–
91.	Lobsang Gyeltshen	?–1932	1927–1932	blo bzang rgyal mtshan	–
92.	Thubten Nyinche	?–1933?	1933	thub bstan nyin byed	1st gtsang pa khri sprul
93.	Yeshe Wangden	* 19th century	1933–1939	ye shes dbang ldan	1st mi nyag khri sprul
94.	Lhündrub Tsöndrü	?–1949	1940–1946	lhun grub brtson 'grus	Shangpa Lhündrub Tsöndrü
95.	Trashi Tongthün	* 19th century	1947–1953	bkra shis stong thun	–
96.	Thubten Künga	1891–1964	1954/1958–1964	thub bstan kun dga	–
97.	Thubten Lungtog Tendzin Thrinle	1903–1983	1965–	thub bstan lung rtogs bstan 'dzin 'phrin las	The 6th Ling Rinpoche Ling Rinpoche Kyabje Ling Rinpoche was a Tibetan buddhist scholar and teacher.Born in Tibet, northwest of Lhasa, he also was the 97th Ganden Tripa and senior tutor to His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama. The Ganden Tripa is the spiritual head of the Gelugpa Sect, the largest sect in Tibetan Buddhism. Kyabje Ling...
98.	Jampel Shenpen	1919–1989	1984-1989	'jam dpal gzhan phan	–
99.	Yeshe Dönden	?–1995	?	ye shes don ldan	–
100.	Lobsang Nyima Rinpoche	* 1928-2008	1995–2003	blo bzang nyi ma	–
101.	Khensur Lungri Namgyel Khensur Lungri Namgyel Trisur Rinpoche Jetsun Lungrik Namgyal, also known as Khensur Lungri Namgyel, was born in 1927 in Kham is the 101st Gaden Tripa, the leader of the Gelug sect of Tibetan Buddhism....	* 1927	2003–2009	lung rig rnam rgyal	2nd ri rdzong sras sprul
102.	Thubten Nyima Lungtok Tenzin Norbu	* 1937	2009-	thub bstan nyi ma lung rtogs bstan 'dzin nor bu	Rizong Sras Rinpoche